SHOWING HER concern for the safety and well-being of the 20-member delegation from Pakistan that is in the city to participate in the 11th edition of the annual Global Youth Peace Fest (GYPF), Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called the organisers of the event to enquire about their security and other arrangements.

WATCH SUSHMA SWARAJ’S RESPONSE TO PAKISTANI GIRL

Of 20 members, 19 are girls. Sushma Swaraj also enquired from Pramod Sharma, coordinator of Yuvsatta, about where the delegates are staying, their local activities and when they are scheduled to return. She also interacted with the head of Pakistani delegation Aliya Harir, founder of Aaghaze-E-Dosti an India-Pakistan friendship initiative, if they need any other assistance or support from her side. She also told them that if at any stage, they face any problem, they must immediately let her know. She emphasised that in Indian ethos, guests are treated like Gods ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and that they should go back with happy memories of India.

Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was earlier scheduled to address the delegation at 9.30 am Saturday. However, the organisers got a call Friday evening that the address by the High Commissioner had been cancelled.

Basit was to address the peace meet from 9.30 am-11 am. On Thursday, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit had reportedly received “threat calls” on Thursday, asking him “to leave India”.

After India’s surgical strikes across the LoC, the girls have been getting calls from their family members from Pakistan. “All of us have been getting calls from family members asking about our well-being,” said Aliya. The delegation on Saturday refrained from answering any queries related to political issues. The women interacted with students of Dev Samaj College Chandigarh and deliberated upon the positive role women have played in peace initiatives such as GYPF.